Cholera epidemic in Orissa calls for help

Orissa has been under threat of cholera and other water-borne diseases, which have spread rapidly in Orissa’s Rayagada tribal heartland. Cholera and diarrhea has claimed 49 lives and the state government of Orissa has asked for the help from the central government to tackle the crisis. State government of Orissa has been accused for negligence towards the plight of people as many suffer from inadequate supply of food likc rice.

The major cause of the spread has been attributed to contaminated water in the region. In 2007, similar epidemic broke in the region, which led to death of 150 people in Rayagada alone. At that time, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself visited Rayagada district and assured that drinking water and other required facilities would be provided to the people, but looks like the situation still remains unresolved.

Working president of the state Congress unit Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra has been criticizing the state...

government and some of the accusations include:

There has been no improvement in communications and healthcare.

The public distribution system is not working.

Money meant for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has remained unspent.

People are eating wild roots and infected food.

India is hosting commonwealth games in a month and is scheduled to hold Formula 1 race next year, fails to provide some basic amenities like clean water to certain parts of the country, like northeastern state of Orissa. A country can advance up to a certain limit without fulfilling its citizen’s basic needs.